Tarburton did a nice job the last 2 seasons, but I agee that the 3 main DE's for 2023 (Isaac, Chop & DDS) are all significantly more athletic and will put up even better pressure on opposing QB's. We have to remember that DDS only showed up at PSU mid-summer and still looked great for a true freshman. At that he was listed as the tallest the biggest of the 3 and an off season in the PSU S&C should make him significantly stronger against the run. Robinson was the lightest at under 240 and only made the transition to DE from LB when he showed up at PSU last May, so he'll also be bigger and faster after a winter in the S&C. I also like the rest of the DE group. Vanover consistently showed up around the ball in limited reps in 2022 and he's a big strong young man, we know Vilbert is a big athletic player that can get to the QBand Fisher looked the part after finally getting healthy at season's end. Can't remember a deeper group at PSU if they all stay and stay healthy. Biggest problem will be spreading around the playing time as the better they play the less snaps there will be to go around.
Carter and Jacobs are now proven high level players and I also hope King can continue to improve and take over in the middle. And Carter will have his first winter S&C which should make him even more of a missile. Should be fun to watch the depth develop in the Spring, Fall camp and early in the 2023 season. Mills should back up Jacobs. Wylie reportedly is much bigger than when he arrived at PSU and the 2023 class LB's all have the athleticism to play in 2023 although I'd guess that Keys redshirts unless he can show up in the Summer 20 lbs bigger than his reported 195 H.S. playing wt. Robinson is physically ready and he might push Elsdon to the bench as the 2023 season goes along, but even if he doesn't what a luxury it will be to have the 2023 freshmen LB's practicing and developing in case they are called upon. Obviously Buddin saw the same scenrio playing out.
Should also be interesting to see how motivated the staff is to get young CB's playing time in 2023. King, Dixon, Duck and Hardy could all be gone after 2023 so it will be a high priority to develop the young CB's, Miller, Washington, Tracy and Payne if he sticks at CB (reportedly may not be fast enough and could be at Safety). I'm looking for Smith to start Mack at CB as well as he reportedly is super fast. Most of the young guys will have to progress quickly to have a good CB group for 2024, but I'm guessing Franklin will bring in a transfer CB next winter as well.
Reed was hurt but I didn't see anything about it being anything major. Ellis, Reed, Wheatley and Winston should be as good a group of Safety's as we've seen at PSU. Looking forward to seeing a bigger, more ready to play in the B10 Flowers this Spring, or he will get passed up by the incoming Nelson.
Lots to look forward to on defense for PSU this off season and going into 2023.